Now is a great time to remove any foliage that’s still clinging to your deciduous bonsai that go dormant in winter. While deciduous leaves typically fall off on their own, not all varieties let go so easily. If you still see leaves on your deciduous bonsai – and you live in the northern hemisphere – it’s time for the leaves to come off.
Korean hornbeam
After removing the leaves
Removing leaves helps trees get a proper dormancy and reduces hiding places for insects. It also lets us to look closely at branches we may not have seen since last winter. Is the ramification better than it was last year? Is it worse? About the same? By inspecting the year’s growth I can see how the tree did and make notes about what I can do better next year.
Japanese maple
After removing the leaves
For details about leaf-plucking techniques and a look at this maple from last year, see “How to remove leaves from deciduous bonsai.”
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Evan says
Would you say the same for people (like myself) in zone 10a, Southwest Florida? Some deciduous foliage (mostly my American elms) looks healthy as can be. So much so I feel like defoliating would send it into a backbudding attempt (they’re definitely not trying to drop their leaves).
Mac says
Jonas, Interesting post.
Now to add on to what Evan has asked. Oaks, Live Oak, Laurel Oak, Water Oak all retain their leaves for the most part, through winter. Some time in early spring they all drop (except Live Oak, they drop some not all) and two weeks later new leaves start showing up.
I have wondered about this. We have just had the second Winter Silhouette Bonsai Exhibition in Kannapolis, NC. I have a nicely ramified Laurel Oak that would be a great candidate for the exhibition. However it still retains it’s leaves. I’d have to defoliate it and then find out if it gets insulted by doing that in late November and dies or if it tries to leaf out in mid-winter. Or if it doesn’t give a rip and sits dormant till spring and leafs out normally.
Any ideas on this? And Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Jonas Dupuich says
Very good questions! Evan – I’d defer to people who grow elms or the other deciduous varieties in your garden in your area. If the tree is young and not very developed, I’d try experimenting by removing the leaves.I did this with zelkova in my garden that were still green. I also have young quince that haven’t showed a single sign of shedding their leaves – I’m thinking I’ll experiment and leave the leaves on some but remove them from others to see how they respond.
Mac – it sounds like your oak are at least somewhat semi-deciduous. Experimenting on less-developed trees may provide some insight, but again I’d be curious to hear from others who’ve tried the experiment where you live. As the leaves naturally come off when the new leaves appear – some varieties do this where I live too – it sounds like you’re ok letting the leaves follow their own schedule.
Pauline says
Thank you for all your great advice! Now I am off to remove any ‘leftovers’ from my maples.
Merry X’mas and a Happy New Year!